The Master's and Doctoral Programs in the Department of Sociology focus primarily on three core areas:
In addition to the Graduate Streams and the research project clusters, core and cross-appointed faculty undertake supervision and research across the following areas: Social and Sociological Theory, Economic Sociology, Social Capital, Stratification & Mobility, Consumer Culture and Consumption,Visual Culture, Race and Ethnicity, Science & Technology Studies, Social Movements, Feminist Theory, Work and Occupations, Sexualities, Gender, Religious Activism, Identity and Experience.
Application Deadline: January 20
Our application window opens annually in September. The application review process begins on January 20 and continues through the Spring. Applications must be submitted by January 20 to be considered for internal awards. We start to send out offers of acceptance in late February. Late applications received after January 20 are accepted from domestic applicants, and successful applicants may be offered funding, on a case-by-case basis, so please reach out for more information or begin your application. Late applications do not apply to international applicants.
To be considered for the top Queen's awards and scholarships, you should apply for federal and provincial graduate awards (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR and Ontario Graduate Scholarships) in the Fall. We also recommend that you submit your application to our School of Graduate Studies as early as possible.
We do welcome part-time status applicants at both the MA and PhD level. Applicants should know that these places carry no financial support from the University. Part-time students may be able to TA, but full-time students will be offered such opportunities first.
Required documentation
Master of Arts
| 1 | Academic prerequisites | BA Honours undergraduate degree in Sociology or equivalent with a minimum B+ standing. |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Writing sample | A writing sample is required. The writing sample is a paper submitted in a sociology course or equivalent, typically 10-15 pages in length. Please send electronically to Graduate Program Assistant. |
| 3 | Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) | A C.V. is required. Please send electronically to Graduate Program Assistant. |
| 4 | Statement of interest | MA applicants will vary in what they put in their statement of interest. Some have a very precise project in mind and they outline that particular project and indicate someone they feel would be able to best supervise them. But some applicants haven't narrowed in on a precise project so they indicate the area in which they are interested in studying. For the MA, we do not expect original research but demonstrated mastery of a given body of sociological literature related to a focused research question. If known, you could indicate whether you wish to pursue the essay or thesis option. Some MA students choose to do field work, but it is not mandatory. The length of the statement is about a page although it might be longer if you have a precise project (so 300 to 500 words in general). |
| 5 | References | Two (2) academic references are required. |
| 6 | Other | Applicants to the Master’s program are not required to select a research area or find a suitable supervisor in advance. |
Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology
| 1 | Academic prerequisites | BA Honours undergraduate degree and Master's degree in Sociology or equivalent with a minimum A- standing. We also welcome applications from students with alternative academic backgrounds, particularly those with degrees from disciplines or interdisciplinary programs related to our specialty areas, for example, Communications, Criminology, Law, Gender Studies, Media Studies, Cultural Studies. |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Writing sample | A writing sample is required. The writing sample is a paper submitted in a sociology course or equivalent, typically 10-15 pages in length. Please send electronically to Graduate Program Assistant. |
| 3 | Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) | A C.V. is required. Please send electronically to Graduate Program Assistant. |
| 4 | Statement of interest | Doctoral applicants will vary in what they put in their statement of interest. Some have a very precise project in mind and they outline that particular project and indicate the people they feel would be able to best supervise them. But some applicants haven't narrowed in on a precise project so they indicate the area in which they are interested in studying, the outlines of a possible project, and again indicate who might best supervise them. It's also a good idea to indicate why you have chosen Queen's Sociology -- what is there in particular about the program or people that makes this a good fit for your doctoral work. The length is probably about a page although it might be longer if you have a precise project (so 300 to 500 words in general). Each applicant must identify a faculty member in the Department who is willing to at least initially supervisor the work. |
| 5 | References | Two (2) academic references are required. |
| 6 | Other | To complete an application to the PhD program, applicants must have an agreement of supervision by a faculty member with a full time, joint, or cross appointment with the Department. PhD applicants must identify one of the three research areas as their primary specialty area and secure a faculty member in the Department who is willing to supervisor the work. |
The following faculty are currently available for and actively interested in supervising new PhD applicants in the Sociology program:
- ABRAMS, Thomas - Disability Studies; Sociological Theory; Social Inequality; Sociology of Health and Illness; Sociology of the Body
- BARON, Stephen - Criminology, Young Offenders
- BURFOOT, Annette (On Leave July 2023 – June 2024) - Feminism, Visual Science Studies (anatomy, cancer care, science fiction), Technology Studies (political economy of manufacturing, reproductive & genetic engineering), Cultural Studies
- GOLRIZ, Golshan (On Leave July 2023 – June 2024) - Gender; Sexuality; Race and Ethnicity; Islam; Middle East and North Africa; Social Movements; Political Sociology; Qualitative Methods and Methodologies
- HAND, Martin - Digital Culture, Visual Culture, Consumer Culture, Technology Studies
- HUSAIN, Fauzia - Muslim women, sexuality and gender, globalization, inequality, South Asia
- KAY, Fiona - Sociology of Law, Criminology, Work and Occupations, Sociology of Professions, Gender, Race and Ethnicity, Mixed Methods
- MÖLLERS, Norma (On Leave July 2023 – March 2024) - Science & Technology Studies; Political Sociology; Science, technology & the state; Infrastructure, social order, and inequality; Material politics; Techno-politics; Politics of knowledge and expertise; Social Theory; Ethnography
- MYERS, Nicole (On Leave July 2023 – June 2024) - Bail and Pre-trial Detention; Supervision and Conditions of Release; Court Processing and Sentencing; Punishment and Social Control; Criminal Justice policy\
- TUZCU, Pinar - Digital Justice, Algorithmic Culture, Critical Coding Studies, Intersectional Internet Studies, Post-Colonial & Anti-Colonial Feminist Approaches to Science & Technology Studies, Cybercolonialism, Migration & Mobilities, Mobile/Migrant Feminism, Marginalized knowledge forms & research methodologies.
- SAULNIER, Alana - Legal authorities use of surveillance technologies; Public perceptions of surveillance in society; Evidence-based policing; Evidence-based crime policy; Experimental criminology
- SISMONDO, Sergio - Science & Technology Studies, political economy of knowledge, pharmaceutical research, medicine
- SOEDERBERG, Susanne - Global Political Economy, Global Finance and Debt, Global Development, Global Governance, Rental Housing and Finance
- SYTSMA, Victoria (On Leave July 2023 – June 2024) - Criminology, Policy & Program Evaluation, Policing, Quantitative Data Analysis
- TAYLOR, Marcus - Political Economy, Economic Sociology, Political Ecology, Labour & Livelihoods, Climate Change Adaptation
Master of Arts
The Master of Sociology offers three (3) pathways to completion:
- Pattern I (Thesis): Students are required to complete six courses and write a thesis of 25,000 words and defend it before a committee of examiners (12-24 months).
- Pattern II (A) (Essay): Students are required to complete six courses and write an extended essay of 10,000-12,000 words (12 months).
- Pattern II (B) (Experiential): Students are required to complete four courses, 72 hours of experiential learning in a community-based setting, and a report of 10,000-12,000 words (12 months).
Incoming Masters students are registered in Pattern II (A) (Essay). At the end of the Fall Term, students may remain in the Essay pathway, or apply to pursue Pattern I or Pattern II (B). Entry to these is dependent on academic progress, a successful proposal, and supervision.
Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology
Students will complete four courses, a course in professional and pedagogical skills, a 2-part qualifying examination (written and oral), and a thesis in traditional or manuscript format to be defended before a committee of examiners.
Minimum time for degree completion is four years.
Calculating costs
The Queen's Student Awards website provides charts with guidelines for the costs that students in our Graduate Studies programs may incur, including education and basic living expenses (based on an 8 month period). The amount it costs to attend Queen's will depend somewhat on the choices you make, which will affect your budget.
For information on financial assistance please contact Queen's Student Awards.
Funding Packages
All full-time graduate students receive guaranteed funding. The current minimum guaranteed funding package for Ph.D. students is $23,000 per year for four (4) years and $16,000 for MA students for one (1) year or two (2) years dependent on the degree pathway.
It is important that you apply for all major external and internal scholarships (where appropriate) for which you are eligible. Recipients of major external and internal scholarships will be applied to funding offers (i.e., the external award is not on top of the original $16,000 or $23,000 minimum guarantee); however, funding offers overall for students with external awards are likely to be higher than those who do not receive them.
Additional internal and external funding
Queen's Internal Awards
Successful applicants are nominated for Queen’s Graduate Fellowships/Scholarships, no separate application is necessary. The awards are valued between $5,000 and $10,000 and are awarded on a competitive basis.
Please see Queen's Internal Awards for a list of available awards. If you feel you meet the requirements to qualify for any internal award please contact the Graduate Program Assistant.
Department of Sociology Awards
- Blakely Family Student Initiatives Award: The Blakely Student Initiatives Fund provides financial support for student participation in projects devoted to the principles of personal growth and/or community service. Projects should provide educational opportunities such as participation in exchanges, competitions, internships, symposia, conferences and seminars. Applications for funding must be received prior to the conference/event for which you are applying. Contact Wendy Schuler for more information.
- Conference Travel Awards: Full-time master's students in the first 2 years and full-time doctoral students in the first 4 years are eligible to apply for a student conference award to attend a recognized conference at which they are presenting an authored or co-authored paper or poster. Funds are allocated on January 15, May 15 and August 15. Successful applicants will be awarded some money to help support travel, accommodation, food, and registration fees. The application must be made and approved prior to the conference.
School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs Information & Awards
Information on tuition, fees and costs as well as the financial support offered to graduate students from the University and external agencies is provided by the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs:
- Registration and Fees
- Funding for Queen's Graduate Students
- Awards & Financial Assistance (Graduate Calendar)
Tri-Council Awards and Ontario Graduate Scholarships Top-Up Award
All Queen's graduate students entering the first year of their graduate program who bring new funding from one of Canada's three granting councils (SSHRC, NSERC or CIHR) automatically receive a one-time top-up award from the University.
Current graduate students in the Department of Sociology who are eligible for an Ontario Graduate Scholarship and/or a SSHRC or another Tri-Council Award are required to apply for them.
Graduate students are expected to serve as paid Teaching Assistants in many of the undergraduate courses offered by the Department. Full-time students must limit Teaching Assistantships and any other academic employment (including Research Assistantships) to an average of ten hours per week in each term, unless they are Teaching Fellows.
Graduate students may also have the opportunity to be lead instructors for our courses as Teaching Fellows, ranging from comprehensive 200-level courses to specialized 400-level seminars. These are excellent opportunities to enhance syllabus design, course planning, teaching and broader pedagogic skills for future careers.
Click here for more information on posted Teaching Fellow job opportunities.
SOCY-900* (Professional and Pedagogical Skills) is compulsory for doctoral students and is offered every other year.
The majority of our PhD graduates who sought a position in academia have been able to secure tenure track appointments. Others find work in places like the Mental Health Commission of Canada, adjunct instructors, Ontario Provincial Government and a New York City Based Think Tank. PhD graduates in Sociology, from Queen’s are securing rewarding, full-time tenure track positions where they are able to draw upon all of their education, skills, and abilities to contribute to international scholarship and higher education.
Almost half of the Department’s Master’s graduates have chosen to pursue doctoral studies. Those who have not continued on to doctoral work have secured challenging positions commensurate with their advanced level skills as sociologists in:
- Research
- Policy Analysis
- Policing Analysis
- Policing and Corrections
- Marketing
- Social Justice Advocacy
- Health Care Administration
- Teaching